NEWS REPORTS

The opening ceremony of “The Forging of Life: Artworks by Chu Tat-shing” today (24 March). The exhibition features a collection of selected artworks in various styles created by renowned Hong Kong sculptor Mr Chu Tat-shing from 1980 to 2024, including figurative sculptures, abstract sculptures and jiaomo (dried ink) human figure paintings, for a comprehensive overview of his techniques and artistic life. The exhibition runs from today until 5 October 2026 at the gallery of Chan Chun Ha Hall, S.H. Ho College.

Officiating guests at the opening ceremony included Mr Chu himself; Professor Joseph Ting Sun-pao, Former Chief Curator of the Hong Kong Museum of History; Mr Lam Kwok-fai, Museum Director of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum; Mr Tai Sheung-shing, Under Secretary for Housing in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, People’s Republic of China, and Former President of the Hong Kong Sculpture Society; Mr Shen Ping, renowned Hong Kong painter; Professor Ambrose King Yeo-chi, Emeritus Professor, Department of Sociology, CUHK; and Professor Vincent Mok Chung-tong, Master of S.H. Ho College, CUHK.

In his welcome address at the opening ceremony, Professor Mok commented: “This is the College’s first major art exhibition in celebration of its 20th anniversary. The College is deeply honoured to invite Mr Chu Tat-shing to present a solo retrospective at the College. His works not only chronicle the stories of Hong Kong but also exhibit his own vibrant life force. A close look at each piece reveals both his deep affection for Hong Kong and his meticulous craftsmanship in form, materials and ideas. The Home Chinese character sculpture on the College lawn is also his work. Over the years, Mr Chu has created nine sculptures for different departments at CUHK, reflecting his long-standing, meaningful connection with the University.”

Mr Tai noted: “Mr Chu has been iconic in terms of his contribution to Hong Kong’s art and culture with his works displaying at CUHK and across the city. In 2006, Mr Chu launched the Hong Kong Sculpture Society, creating a platform for industry exchange and learning along with his humble and selfless dedication. His technique goes beyond achieving lifelike facial features, anatomy, texture, and hair. With exceptional manual dexterity and precision, he breathes soul into his pieces, giving the sculptures both life and spirit. I encourage the audience to look closely and, through the works, appreciate Mr. Chu’s unwavering, forward-looking spirit and the tenderness that informs his art.”

Professor King said: “CUHK is steeped in a rich humanistic atmosphere and Mr Chu’s works are also scattered throughout the CUHK campus. Among the many artistic disciplines, sculpture is the most difficult one to master. When Mr Chu created the statue of Dr Sun Yat-sen, no one in the world knew what Dr Sun in his young age actually looked like; yet, under Mr Chu’s skilful hands, the statue of Dr Sun Yat-sen is lifelike and exudes a profound spirit. In the history of Chinese art, sculpture has not been a dominant art form, and the sculptors who have gone down in history are few and far between. Mr Chu has achieved a synthesis of realism and expressionism, reaching the very pinnacle of his art.”

Mr Chu added: “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the teachers, students and friends who have joined us here today. Creating eight figure statues and one running script sculpture for CUHK was no easy feat. These sculptures depict many of the University’s scholars and community leaders, and include the calligraphic sculpture of the character ‘家’ (Home) at the S.H. Ho College. The ‘家’ sculpture was inspired by the ‘Liberty’, ‘Equality’, and ‘Fraternity’ sculptures in Sun Yat-sen Memorial Park. The creation of the ‘家’ sculpture was a challenging process, requiring the hammering of over a hundred copper plates. I am truly grateful for all the support and encouragement along my journey in sculpture.”

On the opening day, Mr Chu also delivered a public lecture, “My Artistic Life”, in which he looked back on his creative journey and explained representative works, helping the audience better understand the ideas behind them. After the lecture, he gave a live sculpture demonstration, allowing visitors to observe his creative process up close and exchange views with him.

Exhibition Details

“The Forging of Life: Artworks by Chu Tat-shing”